Abstract
In the Part I, we discussed the main points of the design of the mechanism based on recent trends in the background of the need for resource circulation and in the issues for social implementation. In the Part II, although resource circulation is premised on being implemented on the local system, since it is not possible to improve efficiency if it is worked on individually, we addressed how it is best to proceed with the efforts of the local system with the efforts of the overall system.
Part I:
1.The connection of systems in the resource circulation is important
There is no room for vertical integration, and the resource circulation system is one in which diverse stakeholders are inevitably involved. Even in the value chain for a single product group, the linkage of each chain is important, and since multiple product groups are collected at the same time, the linkage of circulation systems becomes even more important.
2.Stakeholders are diverse even in plastic resource circulation, and it is necessary to design a social system that induces consumers to change their behavior
The efficiency of plastic resource circulation can be improved by having end-consumers provide plastic to the circulation route in a form that facilitates a higher level of recycling. It will be necessary to design this behavior change of end consumers as a social system of incentives, norms, regulations, and cost-adding, in coordination with the progress of technological development.
3.Circular Economy (CE) is the cornerstone of industrial economic policy
It will also be necessary to design a framework for social implementation of resource circulation, for example, a framework for dialogue (i.e., knowledge narrative) regarding the tolerance of uncertainty, and to introduce evaluation indicators that will enable monitoring of new values.
4.CE business must be envisioned utilizing digital platforms
There is an urgent need to develop tools that incorporate the three elements of lifecycle design, scenario design, and business or service design to support each design. Sharing tools that contribute to multi-step consensus building that take into account systematic thinking, robustness related to quality assurance tolerances, and scenarios related to psychological hurdles are required.
5.CE will make the lives of many people better (i.e., well-being)
CE is a transformation of the economic model and must include Well-being as one of the economic principles. However, few consumers may have an image of becoming well-being in CE.
Part II:
1.The design of resource circulation systems in Japan and in the local system of office buildings in Tokyo is still in its infancy
At present, material recycling and chemical recycling in the veins are not even seamlessly connected. As for office buildings, good examples of single-material resource recycling systems and visualization are gradually emerging. It is desirable to design a resource circulation system that thoroughly uses up resources, including maintenance and refurbishing.
2.It is important to consider a strategic consideration based on the overall picture of development as an industry, not just a local system
The resource circulation technology should be considered not only for the Japanese domestic market, but also for the development of the industry so that it can capture overseas markets as well. It is important to strategically consider what to prioritize and at what timing, based on the premise that we are serious about solving the overall problem, while keeping both the overall and the individual in mind.
3.To understand the data uncertainty and current data in the conception of future local systems on the run
Although there are methods to compare baselines for future scenarios in scenario analysis-type LCA and to make preliminary forecasts of the effects of future technologies in future projection-type LCA, the issue is to understand the uncertainty of future data and the current data.
